The Division of Campus Residences Stony Brook University Telephone: 631-632-6966 Fax: 631-632-9211 Email Address: [email protected] Website Address: www.studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/res/ Most Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate And Family Housing Q. Are all new graduate students guaranteed housing? A. Yes. All new international and domestic graduate students are guaranteed housing as long as his or her advance housing deposit and housing request are RECEIVED BY THE FALL APPLICATION DEADLINE, WHICH IS MAY 15. Please note that the application process is an online process. All new graduate students should wait until they are assigned a Stony Brook ID number, and then pay their housing deposit online by credit card on the Solar System on or before May 15th, 2019: http://www.stonybrook.edu/it/solar.shtml You must then fill out a housing application in the housing portal at: www.stonybrook.edu/housing/portal by May 15th to be guaranteed housing. To honor the May 15th deadline some portion of new admits will be assigned to temporary spaces for the first several weeks of the semester. Q. What if I’m applying for spring semester housing? A. There is no official application deadline for the spring semester as spaces are assigned based on availability. If you are applying for spring semester housing, it is best to get your application and deposit in as soon as possible although there is generally enough space in housing in the Spring semester for most graduate students who want to live on campus.. Q. Am I guaranteed to get the specific housing accommodation I request (i.e. a sole occupancy space for a single student applicant or a one-bedroom apartment for a family applicant)? A. No, housing accommodations will be provided based on availability and the date your application was received. In general, single students should expect to be assigned to a single bedroom in The West Apartments. Please note, although we do allow students to indicate a specific housing preference on their StarRez housing portal application, we do not guarantee where they will ultimately be assigned. The West Apartments are an integral part of the Graduate housing inventory and almost 20% of our new graduate students will be assigned there. Family housing is not guaranteed. In the case that you receive family housing accommodations you should assume that you will be assigned to a one bedroom apartment. Q. How much does it cost to live on campus as a graduate student? A. Prices vary depending on your specific housing accommodations. Estimated costs are listed on page 3. Q. Am I financially obligated to pay rent during the summer even if I plan to leave campus from June to August? A. New graduate students enrolling for Fall arrive in mid-August, and their rent begins as of their date of arrival. However, if you choose to renew your housing for the following year, it is a full year housing agreement, June to May. You will be obligated to pay rent during the summer months in each year to follow in order to maintain your housing on - campus. Q. Do I need to send a deposit in order to secure my housing? A. Yes. There is a $200.00 advance payment, which will be applied to your first month of fall rent. The University accepts checks, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Q. How will I be notified of my housing assignment? A. You will receive correspondence via mail or email regarding your housing assignment. Please note that Campus Residences reserves the right to reassign residents. Q. When do I check into my assignment? A. You may check into your assignment as early as one week prior to the start of classes. Rent will begin on the date you sign your housing agreement and pick up your keys. Check-in will be held in the Chapin and/or Schomburg/West Apartment Offices. The Chapin Quad Office is located in the Chapin Commons, adjacent to Chapin Building A, and is open during the business hours of 8:30am to 9:00pm. The Schomburg Apartments Office is located in the Schomburg Commons and is open during the business hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm and also from 7:00pm-10:00pm. The West Apartments College Office is located in the E building of West and is open during the business hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm and also from 7:00pm-10:00pm. There are RA’s on duty to check you in when the offices in Schomburg, West, and Chapin are closed. However, to ensure the best possible check-in experience, we encourage you to make every effort to arrive during business hours. Q. Once I arrive on campus how do I pay for my housing? A. When you arrive on campus and accept your keys, you will be billed as of that date. Depending on when you arrive your bill will be pro-rated (billed per day) for the first month. Every additional month will be billed at the full monthly rate. You should pay your rent on a monthly basis, by the 15th of each month. The University allows students to pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Q. Are there any conditions under which I may be able to terminate my Housing Agreement? A. Residents who terminate their agreement prior to the end of the agreement period will be financially responsible for rent through the last day of their agreement. Exceptions will be made for the following circumstances: a) when an individual terminates their housing agreement at a time when there is a waiting list for apartment housing b) when a resident completely withdraws or graduates from the University c) when there are documented medical reasons that require a departure from campus housing d) when there are academic responsibilities or obligations that extend for a semester or longer and require a resident to be away from campus e) when a resident is called to active duty by the US military Residents who terminate their housing agreement will lose future priority for housing. Residents wishing to terminate an apartment agreement must provide written notice of their intent to cancel their housing agreement to the Office of Campus Residences. Q. What if I change my mind, and decide not to attend Stony Brook University. Will I be refunded my $200 deposit? Yes. Cancellations received in writing prior to 15 days before the start of classes will be eligible for a $100 credit of their initial room deposit. Q. Can I bring and/or purchase personal items to make my stay in graduate housing more comfortable? A. Given that all graduate housing is apartment style (i.e. equipped with kitchen facilities), it is important to bring and/or purchase cooking and eating utensils. You should also bring and/or purchase bedding (i.e. pillows, blankets, and sheets) as well as an extra light source for studying. You can purchase anything you need when you arrive, as there are plenty of affordable stores in the area to purchase living essentials. If you are assigned to The West Apartments you will need to bring a telephone. Personal furniture (including beds and mattresses) may not be brought into campus housing due to strict fire code standards that the University is required to meet. Chapin ,Schomburg, and West Apartments The Graduate and Family Housing Complexes Chapin Apartments The Chapin Apartments, located on the east-side of campus near the University Hospital and Health Sciences Center, are com- prised of 12 separate buildings and a variety of floor plans. All apartments are fully furnished and carpeted, and include utilities, a telephone unit with phone-mail, internet service and on-campus phone service (off-campus and long distance are billed sepa- rately), as well as premium cable service. The Chapin Apartments have a remodeled children’s playground area equipped with swings, slides and a climbing gym. There are also community volleyball and basketball courts, laundry room facilities with mail- boxes situated in the middle of the complex. In addition Chapin residents may also reserve and use the Chapin Commons for birthdays, meetings, parties and other social, cultural events and activities. Chapin Apartment Descriptions. 1-bedroom apartments are for married couples, domestic partners, and single heads of household. 2 bedroom apartments are shared by 4-single graduate students of the same gender, two students per bedroom. 3-bedroom apartments are shared by 6 single graduates of the same gender. 4-bedroom apartments are shared by 4 single students of the same gender. Note: most 4-bedroom apartments have no liv- ing room/common area. Special Note: All apartments consist of living room, (except most 4-bedroom apartments), kitchen facilities equipped with a full size refrigerator, and electric stove with oven, a dining room, and one or two bathrooms (depending on the apartment size). Schomburg Apartments The Schomburg Apartments, comprised of two buildings with a total of 72 apartment units, are conveniently located on the west -side of campus near the academic mall. All the apartments are fully furnished and carpeted, and include utilities, telephone, air conditioning (in some apartments), and premium cable service. The Schomburg Community Center, known as the “Commons,” contains residents’ mailboxes, a laundry room, and the Schomburg Office. There is also a large lounge, which can be used for birthdays, meetings, parties, and other social, cultural, events and activities. Schomburg Apartment Descriptions 1-bedroom apartments are for married couples and domestic partners. (Note: children are not allowed to reside in Schomburg) 4-bedroom apartments are shared by 4-single graduates of the same gender.